Breathing appliance.



Patented J an. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. A. FLEUSS & R. H.Y DAVIS.

BREATHING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 29, 1910 H. A. PLEUSS 6L R. H. DAVIS.

BREATHING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

1,01 3,541. Patented @M1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4 Tan STATES HENRY ALBERT FLEUSS, OF THATCHAM, AND ROBERT HENRY DAVIS, F LONDON,

' ENGLAND.

BREATHING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

Application led September `29, 1910. Serial No. 584,510.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we', HENRY ALBERT.

l FLnUss, residing at Dunstan Lodge, Thatcham, Berkshire, England, and ROBERT HnNRY Dura-residing at 187 Westminster Brldge road, London, England, subjects of the Kingsof Great Britain, have invented new 'and useful Improvements in or Connected with Breathing Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to breathing ap-l paratus such as is used by men engaged in rescue work in mines and for like purposes, and comprises a novel construction of the breathing bag forming a part of such appliance.

According to the invention the -improved breathing bag, which also forms the caustic soda chamber, is of a rectangular or other convenient shape and is made of strong vulcanized india-rubber, a central longitudinal partition extending from the top of the bag to within a short distance of the bottom thereof, or completely to the bottom thereof and having its lower portion perforated, thus dividing the bag intotwo compartments. One of the compartments is tted with an inhaling valve or valve connection and the other with an exhaling valve or valve connection; A third connection isalso fitted tothe inhaling comparb ment or to the inhaling connection this third connection being 1n communication with the oxygen supply, while a fourth connection,.with a relief valve is fitted at the exhaling end of the compartment. The bottom ofthe bag'contains caustic soda, preferably fused stick, into which the aforementioned central partition dips. With this construction of bag lit will be clear that the exhaled breath of the user of the apparatus enters one of the compartments of the bag down which it passes and from which it escapes through the layer of caustic soda before passing to the other compartment of the bag and thence t0 the inhaling tube.

In breathing bags as used in some Aes of `self-contained .breathing apparatus ere is a danger that the inner side of the walls, particularlyif there be any moisture upon them, gmay ystick together elther through an extrade'ep inhalation b the wearer or, as has 'sometimes happens when the 'bag isv p upon, the resultpin such cases being.

frequently met with after a fall of roof.

In such cases the bag will inevitably be pressed almost, if not quite, fiat, but even vthen, with our improved bag, there would be a free passage for the air.

To enable the invention-to be fully under` stood we will describe it by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a sectional side view of a Vbreathing bag made according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. `l, seen from below. Figs. -l and 5 are sectional side and end views respectively illustrating a modified form of bag. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a part of a breathing bag showing the alternate method of connecting the oxygen supply. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively sectional elevations and plan drawn to a larger scale of a detail hereinafter described, and Fig. 10 is a view of the upperv part of the bag illustrating a further modification.

, a isv the bag proper which, as above stated,

ismade of vulcanized india-rubber and b is the partition which extends from the top of the bag a either to within a short distance of the bottom lthereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or'completely tofthe bottom thereof,

in which case its lower part, is formed with the perforations c, c as shown, in Fig. 4. The partition b divides the bag into two compartments d and e, the compartment d being the inhaling compartment and the compartment e the exhaling compartment andI the said partition is formed with the vlongitudinal 'ribs b. on either'side for the purpose above described.

The inhalingcompartment d is fittedjrwith -a valve connection f and with a valve'conx nection gv in communication with the oxyvof the bag is charged with caustic soda.

The inhaling and exhaling connections f and h respectively are in communication by the flexible tubes j, j with the mouth piece Z: and a trap Z is interposed between the latter and the exhaling connection l1. for catching or retaining saliva and any moisture which may be contained in the exhaled breath. For cooling the breath as it passes through the trap we advantageously provide it with a perforated jacket Z Figs. l,

part of the former to 2, 7, 8 and 9 filled with asbestos wool saturated with a mixture of methylated spirit and water in about the proportion `of one three parts of the latter.

When the appliance is in use the exhaled breath of the person using the apparatus passes through the connection 7L into the compartment c down which it passesv any saliva or moisture being retained by the trap Z. On reaching the bottom of the compartment e the exhaled breath penetrates through the caustic soda and enters the compartment (Z up which it flows and finally passes out with the oxygen entering by the connection g through the pipe f to the mouth of the user.v

In Fig. 6 we have illustrated the modification wherein the oxygen supply-connection g is connected to, and opens into the inhaling connection f. This construction possesses the advantage that the fresh oxygen does not pass into the haga which becomes warmed in use and consequently raises the temperature of the oxygen when the latter is first introduced into the bag as in the form of our invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Instead of thearrangement of saliva trap Z, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be arranged without the cooling jacket Z, as illustrated in Fig. 10, and in addition we may provide a similar trap, but with a cooling jacket interposed between the mouth-piece k and the inhaling connection f, also, as shown in the said figure. .Or both of such traps may be with or without the cooling jacket.

It may be added that our object in using a flexible container or breathing bag for the caustic alkali or other solid absorbent of carbonio acid gas is to enable the substance to be shaken up from time to time by the wearer of the apparatus, for the purpose of removing. the carbonated surface, and thus presenting a fresh and active surface for the further absorption of the gas.

Claims:

l.y A breathing appliance comprising a bag having a longitudinal partition dividing the bag into two compartments in communication with one another, one of said compartments being provided with a valve and connection through which 'oxygen is supplied to the user, a cooling trap through which said oxygen passes and a valve and connection through which oxygen is supplied to the apparatus, and the other of said compartments being fitted with a valve and connection for the passage of exhaled air, a moisture trap through which said exhaled air passes and a relief valve provided for the escape of a portion of the exhaled air from the apparatus.

2. A breathing appliance comprising a bag having a longitudinal partition perforated at its lower extremity and dividing the bag into two compartments, one of said compartments being fitted with an inhaling valve and connection, an oxygen cooling trap and an oxygen supply connectionyand the other of said compartments provided with a connection forthe passage of exhaled air, a moisture trap through which the said exhaled air passes and a' relief valve provided for the escape of a portion of the exhaled air from the'a'pparatus.

3. A breathing appliance comprising a bag having a longitudinal partition provided with ribs on either side thereof and dividing the bag into two compartments in communication with one another, one of said compartments being provided with a valve and a connection through which oxygen is supplied to the user and also a connection through which oxygen is supplied to the apparatus, and the other of said compartments being fitted with a valve and connection for the passage of exhaled air and a relief valve provided for the escape of a portion ofthe exhaled air from the apparatus.

4. In a breathing appliance, the combination with a bag, of a longitudinal partition formed with ribs on either side thereof and dividing the bag into two compartments' in communication with one another, of an inhaling valve and connection, and an oxygen supply connection fitted to one of said compartments, and an exhaling valve and connection, a moisture trap and a relief valve fitted to the other of said compartments.

5. In a breathing appliance the combination with a bag, of a longitudinal partition perforated near its lower extremity and dividing the bag intotwg compartments, said partition being formed with ribs on either side thereof, an inhaling valve and connec tion a cooling trap an o en supply connection fitted to one of saxlyt compartments,

'misser l and an exhaling valve and connection, a

moisture trap and a relief Valve fitted to the other of said compartments.

6. A breathing appliance comprising a bag, a longitudinal partition dividing the bag into two compartments, the compartments being'in communication through suitable means provided in said partition, one of said compartments being provided with a valve and connection through which oxygen is supplied to the user and also a valve and y connect-ion through which oxygen is sup# plied to the apparatus, and the other of said compartments being fitted with a valve and connection for the passage of exhaled air and a relief valve for the,y escape of a portion of the exhaled air from the apparatus.

7. A breathing appliance comprising a bag, a .longitudinal partition dividing the a suitable purifying agent at the point of communication, one of said compartments being provided with a valve and connection through which oxygen is supplied to the user and also a valve and connection through which oxygen is supplied to the apparatus, and the other of said compartments being iitted with a valve and connection for the passage of exhaled air and a relief valve for the escape of a portion of the exhaled air from the apparatus.

HENRY ALBERT FLEUSS. ROBERT HENRY DAVS. Witnesses:

l R. WILSON,

C. P. Linnen 

